Andrew Wiggins was the Gatorade Player of the Year. / Randy Snyder for USA TODAY

by Scott Gleeson and Jim Halley, USA TODAY Sports

by Scott Gleeson and Jim Halley, USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Wiggins, considered the best high school basketball player since LeBron James, could shift the NCAA basketball landscape when he announces his college decision Tuesday, choosing between four programs with little TV-centered theatrics.

"This kid is even better than advertised when you see him in person," college basketball analyst Dick Vitale said by phone Monday of Wiggins, the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Player of the Year. "He fits into the category of LeBron James as a high school player we've never seen before because of his explosiveness."

Florida State, Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina are candidates to land the 6-8 Canadian forward from Huntington (W.Va.) Prep.

"There's no second place in recruiting," Vitale said. "If I'm (Florida State coach), Leonard Hamilton, (Kentucky coach) John Calipari, (North Carolina coach) Roy Williams or (Kansas coach) Bill Self, I'm waiting with anxiety for that phone to ring when you hear someone say, 'it's Andrew.' Whoever gets him will be sitting on Cloud Nine."

Where will Wiggins go? Which teams need him the most? USA TODAY Sports paneled recruiting experts Paul Biancardi and Dave Telep of ESPN, Eric Bossi of Rivals.com and Evan Daniels of Scout.com about what kind of impact Wiggins could have at the four schools he's considering.

Florida State

Playing for the only school among the four without a national championship in its history, Wiggins would have the opportunity to transform his parents' alma mater and potentially put his stamp on the college game similar to the way Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony did before him. FSU also provides a comfortability factor with Xavier Rathan-Mayes, a close friend and high school teammate of Wiggins, running the point.

Telep (ESPN.com): "This is the only school among his four choices that hasn't won a national championship. His presence won't make them a national title contender, but it casts a spotlight on their basketball program. They will never get any more street cred than they will by getting Andrew Wiggins. The question is how do you capitalize on that long-term when you know he's going to be there for just one year?"

Biancardi (ESPN.com): "They're not in the top 25 currently, but if they add Wiggins, they jump into that list. The beauty of college basketball is one player can make a significant difference on the court and off the court, he enhances their recruiting profile. Leonard Hamilton has gotten a lot of high-profile kids, but nobody of this stature. With the seven-footers they have and Wiggins, this team could cover a lot of ground on defense."

Daniels (Scout.com): "He would have his biggest impact at Florida State. With FSU, he would be their lead guy. He would be their primary focus on offense and on defense, though he would have some good pieces around him."

Bossi (Rivals.com): "From a roster standpoint and from a standpoint of noise on the recruiting trail, it would certainly have the biggest impact if he went to Florida State. He's going to be a big fish coming into that pond. Winning a highly publicized recruiting battle against three of college basketball's blue bloods would be huge for Florida State."

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Kentucky

With or without Wiggins, coach John Calipari's recruiting class is already one of the best ever. Having seven McDonald's All-Americans on one roster might create an offensive logjam, but Wiggins' arrival would surely make Kentucky a national title favorite. "If Kentucky gets Wiggins, that team might as well sign up for an NBA application," Vitale suggests. "Are you serious?"

Telep (ESPN.com): "Kentucky is the most pro-centric program in college basketball. If he goes there, he will be challenged every day in practice with 5-7 other first-round players. The challenge for Kentucky is nobody has ever played with 5-7 first-round players. Cal won't have to find a spot for him because Wiggins will create his own spot. He'll be the best wing defender they have, even as a freshman."

Biancardi (ESPN.com): "If he goes to Kentucky, he will be surrounded by great talent with an opportunity to win a national championship, as he would at Kansas. If you're Kentucky, Wiggins adds to a big of a logjam, but when you believe in yourself, you find your shots. Kentucky plays great man-to-man defense and they would press more if they had Wiggins."

Daniels (Scout.com): "He fits the way John Calipari likes to play. He really would be utilized well in a dribble-drive offense. Add him to what they already have and they have the best recruiting class in a long time."

Bossi (Rivals.com): "They have six McDonald's All-Americans already and a couple of big-time guys left over from the year before. Six All-Americans is already something we haven't seen. To add a seventh in a nine-man class, the expectations would be through the roof. You could cut their recruiting class in half and they would have the No. 1 and No. 2 recruiting class."

Kansas

Similar to Kentucky, the Jayhawks boast a strong recruiting class and have a track record of launching players to the NBA after one season. Wiggins could turn Kansas into a top five team and fill the major void left by NBA-bound star Ben McLemore.

Telep (ESPN.com): "Between Kentucky, North Carolina and Kansas, Kansas probably has the toughest row to hoe for a national title because it is young. Now, if Wiggins was going to be there for three years, you're cooking. But, like Kentucky, they've had a revolving door or lottery picks. At this point, they have a nice blueprint for Andrew Wiggins."

Biancardi (ESPN.com): "They have the No. 2 recruiting class and he would be the exclamation point of that class. Ben McLemore was similar in some ways, a big, athletic shooting guard or small forward. The void of McLemore leaving can create a nice presence for Wiggins. They were already a top 10-20 team by most pollsters. With Wiggins, they check in as a top five team and it strengthens their chance for another Big 12 title. Kansas likes to explode off misses and steals and he can help open things up for them."

Daniels (Scout.com): "With him, you're probably looking at the No. 2 class in the country. But no matter what school he goes to, this will change their outlook."

Bossi (Rivals.com): "They lost four senior starters and a freshman. Kansas, maybe even more than Florida State, is a place he could make an immediate impact. They don't really have that true high flyer. He could also, theoretically, play power forward for them because he's so quick and athletic."

North Carolina

Analysts consider the Tar Heels a long shot, but his choosing North Carolina would make the always-intense rivalry with Duke even livelier with fellow top prospect Jabari Parker set to join the Blue Devils. North Carolina's up-tempo style could fit Wiggins best, as could the current roster, led by pass-first point guard Marcus Paige.

Telep (ESPN.com): "They have the talent around them to make the jump from deep tournament to title contender if they land him. Andrew Wiggins is a gifted athlete and Roy Williams loves to step on the gas pedal. If I'm Andrew Wiggins, I like the fact that point guard Marcus Paige is a pass-first guy and will be in the second year of the program."

Biancardi (ESPN.com): "They're always in the attack mode on offense. Wiggins would allow that unit to play a lot faster. He has two good point guards there who will give him the ball."

Daniels (Scout.com): "With Reggie Bullock going to the NBA, there will be a lot of shots available. From Day 1, Wiggins would be their primary weapon and with P.J. Hairston also there, that's a heck of a wing duo."

Bossi (Rivals.com): "I think that he fits in well with their running and how the Tar Heels like to be out in transition. He's certainly a guy who can play way above the rim. Now, you have a guy who can really help out on the glass and defensively on top of what he can do on offense. You have a team that was knocking on the door. If you bring everybody back, and you add the best recruit, you have to like your chances."

Notes:

For everyone who is wondering why Andrew Wiggins is waiting so long to announce his college choice, the answer is because he can.

Like other players who were the top recruits in recent years, the No. 1 high school player can wait and survey the landscape before making his decision because regardless of what school that player picks, room will be made for him.

Looking at Rivals.com's top recruit for the past few years, waiting late to decide is the norm, not the exception.

Last year, Shabazz Muhammad didn't announce he would attend UCLA until April 11. In 2010, Josh Selby didn't say he was Kansas bound until April 16. In 2009, John Wall waited until May 16 to let it be known he was going to Kentucky.